Baseball-game bulletin



Dec. 14 1926.

F. G. DIAGO BASEBALL GAME BULLETIN Filed June 4:, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I attozmq Dec. 14 ,1926. 1,610,550

F. G. DIAGO BASEBALL GAME BULLETIN 'File i June 4, 1926 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 14,1926. 1,616,550

' F. G. DIAGO a BASEBALL GAME BULLETIN '3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 4, 1926 I Patented Dec. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES rnnnaxco e. DIAGO, or HABANA, CUBA.

BASEBALL-GAME BULLETIN.

Application filed June 4, 1926.

This invention is an apparatus whereby the plays occuring in a base ball game may be symbolized or reproduced in a novel manner. The invention seeks to provide an apparatus which will include a representation of a base ball field and figures representing the players and so fitted to the board as to be susceptible of manipulation from the back of the boardin a manner resembling the plays actually occurring in the game according to reports of the game received by telephone, telegraph or other means of instant communication. An apparatus embodying the invention is il lustrated in the accompanying drawings, and the invention resides in certain novel features which will be hereinafter fully set forth. I

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a base board or frame with figures thereon representing base ball players;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the figures representing the pitcher and catcher in the game;

Fig, 4 is a sectional elevation of an umpire;

F ig, 5 is a front elevation of the catcher;

Figs. 6 and 7 are views illustrating a batter;

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of a fielder;

Fig. 9 is a detail of an element for reproducing a fly ball play;

Fig. 10 is a detail illustrating the element employed to represent the ball.

In carrying out the invention, I employ a platform or base board 1 which is supported in an inclined position by legs 2 and to which an inner field orjplatform 3 is connected by brackets l, the opposed margins or edges of the board 1 and the field 3 defining a slot 5 representing the base paths of a base ball diamond. There is also provided in the platform 3 a slot 6 extending from the home plate angle or corner of the diamond to a point approximately in the center thereof and representing the line between the pitchers position and the catchers position in an actual base ball field, a shortslot 7 being provided in the platform 1 in alinement with the said slot 6 to indicate Y the catchers position and terminating at its rear end in an opening 8 through which the figure of the catcher, indi'cated'at 9, may

Serial No. 113,815.

be moved so as to place the figure in position or withdraw it as may be necessary in reporting the game. This also enables the operator to represent the change of sides and also to move the catcher out of the way of 'a base runner who may be moving toward the home plate. To further facilitate the movement of thefigure 9, a cross slot 10 is formed in the platform 1 and this slot extends in both directions from the slot 7 so that the catcher may be moved laterally if necessary and a figure 11, representing an umpire, may be placed'in a position resembling the position occupied by an umpire in an actualgame. A slot, indicated at 12, is also provided in the platform 1 adjacent thejunction of the slots 5 and 6,which defines the home plate position, and in this slot 12 is fitted a figure 13 representing a batter. There is also a hand hole 14 at the outer end of the slot 12 through "which the batter 13 is inserted or withdrawn. 7 i

At each corner of the diamond, there is an outwardly extending slot 15 to enable the. figure 16,1epresenting the baseman, to be placed in position at the outer side of the diamond so that he will not-interfere with a base runner advancing; along the base paths. To facilitate the withdrawal of the baseman or the change of the same when necessary, a hand hole 17 is provided within the angle of the diamond and this hand hole is connected by a slot 18 with the slot 5 representing the. base paths. The figure 16' may be easily shifted'through the communt.

eating slotsto the hand hole 17 and then moved through the said hole so that it may be withdrawn or placed in position; The apparatus also includes a post 19 to enable the operator to reproduce a'line drive, this base being inserted through or set in an opening 20 provided therefor at various positions within the diamond. At the upper end of the post is a ring 21 of a sufiicient di-' ameter to permit a representation of a base ball to pass easily therethrough and at the bottom of thisrin'g isa shoe or guide 22 consisting of an arcuate grooved plate secured at its center to the ring soithat, if a spherical object representing a ballbe drawn to the ring, it will be readily guided toward the center thereof and easily passed through the ring. Hand holes'23 are provided at vari ous points in the diamond so that the operator back of the board may easily reach there-.

through and manipulate the post 19 to place it atthe proper point in the diamond to indicate the direction taken by a fly ball. Near the outer margin of the board 1 is a slot 24c extending around the same and interrupted atintervals by openings 25. Extending through the ring 21 and supported by the guide 22 is a cord 26, the ends 01 which are disposed back of the board, one end portion of the cord passing through one oi the open ings 25 and being adapted to travel along the slot 2 1 as occasion may require. The other end portion of the cord passes through the body of the figure 9 representing the catcher and both ends are equipped with weights 2? which we to-maintain the cord taut. In the lower portion of the body of the catcher is formed a socket or cavity 28 and a small sphere secured upon the cord 26 is normally held within this cavity but may be drawn therefrom by pulling upon the cord when necessary to depict a play.

In the upper portion of the body 9 representing the catcher is a second cavity 29 adapted to receive the sphere 3O representing the ball which passes. between the pitcher and catcher and this .ball is secured to a cord or the like 31 which is'extended between the pitcher and catcher, as shown, the dummy figure 32 representing the pitcher being provided with a cavity 83, corresponding to the cavity 29, and adapted to receive the sphere, as shown in Fig. 3. The cord 31 may be rubber or similar material or may be a light spring, a spring being indicated at 34 in Fig. 10. It will be noted that one of the hand holes 33 is located near the pit-chers position so that an operator may easily reach through the same and hold the ball within the body of the pitcher until it is necessary to represent a pitched ball, whereupon the ball is released and the cord moved so as to carry the ball to the catcher and seat it in the cavity provided therefor. Likewise, when it is necessary to represent a fly ball, the cord 26 is pulled so as to carry the ball secured thereon from the figure of the catcher in the direction determined by the position of the post 19 and through the ring 21 to disappear through the proper hole 25.

The figures representing the several players and the umpire each comprises a body portion 35 supported by'a spring 36 from a base 37 having a grooved edge whereby it may be inserted through a hand hole 8, 14: or 17 and engaged with the opposite sides or a communicating slot to support the figure in the position assigned it. Connected with the body 35 by springs 38 are limbs 39 repre senting heads and arms, and there is also provided a head 41 which is secured upon the body by a spring 42. The body'is pro vided with 'a central chamber 43 opening through the bottom of the body and through this chamber are extended cords and la extending to the upper and lower sides of an .rm and also the cord 26 or 31 connected to the ball. By pulling upon the cord 44 or the cord as, the operator may cause the arm of a player to move up or down and thereby simulate the movement of the natural arm in throwing a ball. by pulling upon all the cords, the body may be bent over to represent the action ot a player in stooping to field ground ball, and one arm of each fielder and the catcher is equipped with a representation 01 a glove or mitt l6. The figure representing the batter has its arms brought together in front 01 the body and a bat at? is secured therein. Each figure representing a player or a base runner is provided with a clasp 4E8 depending from the base 37 so that the several clasps may be engaged upon a cable disposed below the base paths and thereby shifted simultaneously when more than one base runner is advancing at the same time. This arrange ment also permits a fielder to be moved simultaneously with a base runner when representing avoidance of the base runner and also when running down a runner who may be trapped between the bases. It is thoughtthe manipulation of the several elements to reproduce or represent the playing of a game will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Having thus described the invention. claim:

1. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a platform representing a base ball field, figures representing base ball players, two of said figures indicating a pitcher and a catcher and provided with ball-receiving cavities, a ball normally held in one of said figures, and a flexible carrier for the ball extending between and through the said figures and terminating back of the platform whereby it may be manipulated to pass the ball between the figures.

2. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a platform representing a bare ball field, figures representing base ball players, means for engaging the figures with the platform to support them in set positions on the platform, one of the figures having a cavity therein, a ball normally ield in said cavity, a guide for the ball. means for placing the guide in a set position upon the platform, and means for moving the ball from the figure through the guide.

3. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a platform representing a base ball field, figures representing l players adapted to be set on the platform, a post having a ring at its upper end, an arcuate grooved guide plate carried by the bottom of said ring, a ball normally held withinone of the figures, a cord attached to the ball and having both end portions extending through the platform and at its intermediate portion extending through the said ring Whereby to pull the ball in a direction determined by the position of the post to represent a fly ball.

at. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a platform having slots therein representing the base paths and players positions of a base ball field, figures representing players and each comprising a base adapted to be engaged in and moved along the slots, a body, a resilient connection between the body and the base supporting the body above the base, limbs having elastic connections with the body, and manipulating cords attached to the limbs and extending through the body and doWnWardiy through the base and said resilient connection to terminate below the platform.

5. An apparatus for the purpose set forth comprising a platform having slots therein representing the base paths and players positions of a base ball field, figures repre senting base ball players and each comprising a base positioned in a slot, a body elastically supported on the base, arms elastically connected With the body, operating cords attached to the arms and extending downwardly through the body and the base, V

and a cable-engaging clasp secured to and dependlng from the base.

In testimony Whereo; I aifix my signature.

FEDERICO o. DIAGO. a 3.1 

